Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“How did you get out?” I asked, dinner forgotten, my heart beating hard.
“I went up to the attic—kicked out the window. They swung the ladder close enough I could grab it.” He heaved a sigh. “I was off for a bit. I had broken some ribs and my leg.” He shook his head. “I didn’t even notice the pain until I hit the ground and was safe.”
“Oh my God.”
“Not long after, I decided the big city wasn’t for me anymore, and I transferred here when a posting came up.” He shrugged. “Still dangerous, but maybe not as much.”
“Jesse,” I whispered.
Our eyes met and held. The air between us was heavy. Serious. Far too intense. I felt a draw to him like a magnet. The urge to pull him toward me and kiss away the frown line on his forehead was strong. Kiss his full mouth until he forgot about what he’d told me and let nature take over was potent.
But he cleared his throat, withdrawing his hand. “Good move on my part. Never had pot roast like this before.”
I forced a laugh. “Eat it while you can. I’m here for a good time, not a long time.”
He looked thoughtful. “Lou mentioned she thought you’d stay a year. Why only a year? You plan on buying your own place?”
“No. I don’t…stay places long,” I replied, not wanting to get into it.
“I see.”
“Don’t worry, Thorne. I’ll make sure you get pot roast again.”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll hold you to that.”
We talked about various subjects. Nothing overly personal, although we shared a few tidbits. He talked about going through fire training and never once wavering that being a firefighter was what he wanted to do. I told him how I got into computers at school and spent every moment I could learning how they worked. Understanding code. He asked a lot of questions about it, and I answered as best I could. It was a safe subject for both of us as we slowly got to know each other.
After three plates of pot roast, Jesse sat back, looking satisfied. “I was starving.”
“I noticed.” I stood and carried the dishes to the counter. Jesse picked up the glasses, handing them to me. I filled the sink, the bubbles frothing up in the hot water.
“It was one of those shifts. I kept missing meals, or we’d get interrupted just as we sat down. I ate a lot of sandwiches the last few days.” He leaned against the counter and side-eyed me seriously. “I certainly didn’t get the lasagna you dropped off.”
I chuckled. “I may have some in the fridge.”
“I’ll take it.”
“I didn’t mean that as an offer.”
He grinned, looking boyish as he grabbed a dish towel and started drying. “You want your wind chimes up tomorrow? I’ll need sustenance.”
I laughed. “I see.”
“You wouldn’t want me weak and dizzy on the ladder, would you—” he hip checked me “—Pixie?”
My eyes went round, and I gaped at him. “How did you know that?”
“Lou used to talk about Pixie. Martha called you that when I was talking to her today. I realized that Pixie and Casey were the same person.” He winked. “It suits you.”
I waved my hand, bubbles flying in the air. “It did when I was little. I was very short.”
“Not much has changed.”
I turned to him, glaring. “I’m five foot three,” I retorted, indignant.
“I’m six three—a foot taller. And I must outweigh you by at least a hundred pounds. Pixie still works.”
“Don’t make me hurt you, Thorne.”
He laughed, suddenly stepping in front of me, crowding me against the counter. He ducked his head. “Do your worst, Pixie.”
“Stop it,” I protested, laughing. I slapped his chest. “I’m small, but I’m strong.”
“So you keep telling me.”
Silence fell between us, the smiles falling from our faces. He gazed down at me, his eyes intense. I could feel the heat of his body—warm, strong. He smelled like fresh-cut grass in the summer. It was a clean, masculine scent that suited him. Unbidden, my breathing picked up and I sensed the rush of color in my cheeks. I still had my hand on his chest, his heartbeat a steady thump-thump-thump under my palm.
He cocked his head and began to bend lower. I rolled up on my toes, already anticipating the feel of his mouth on mine. Desperate to close the distance between us and taste him. Feel his arms around me. His breath drifted across my face, and I fisted the soft material of his shirt, wanting him as close as possible. Desire bloomed in my stomach, making my entire body feel alive. Needy. One that could only be satisfied by Jesse.
Except Barney raced down the steps, Miller hot on his heels, breaking the spell that surrounded us. Jesse leaped back as if he’d been burned and grabbed for Miller’s collar.